Don't worry about what size you take or how much you weigh. The
shape of your body is more important to how you look in your clothes
than the number on the label.
Are you petite but heavy, pear-shaped, or big and tall? Defining
your body's silhouette is the first step in helping to develop your
own sense of style. No matter what your shape, or what shape it's in,
you can enhance your figure and balance your proportions with the
right wardrobe.
Generally, large-framed women look better in loose-fitting
styles.Smaller-boned women look better in neat-fitting clothes.
Unlike most smaller women, tall women can hold their own in strong
patterns and textures. Wearing clothes that fit and flatter will help
you to look and feel terrific, even if you're not a perfect 10.
To determine your basic shape, take an honest look at your
physique in a full length mirror while you're wearing a leotard or
bathing suit. Then adapt the following advice to make the most of the
assets you have.
Spot Checks for All Shapes:
Large bust: Show off your decolletage with V-necks and open
collars but keep to semi fitted, fluid styles that don't bind. Wear a
properly fitted bra.
Short neck: Keep hair off the neck. Doing so will add length.
Choose small earrings and necklaces that hang below the collarbone;
and oblong scarves rather than ascots. Try V or scoop necklines.
Protruding tummy: Try a softly draped skirt, not one cut on the
bias.Narrow pants with a front or side closure are a smooth base over
which to layer a tunic.
Thick calves, ankles: Choose low-vamp shoes with medium heels.
Ankle boots are a great problem solver, especially when teamed with a
long, flowing skirt.
Big and Tall Gals:
Valerie Mackie, merchandise manager for clothing retailer Tall
Girl (she's almost six feet tall herself) cautions against buying
clothes that are too big in order to get extra length. More than
those with petite frames, big and tall women must buy the best
quality they can afford in order to get the generous cut they need."
Simplicity is key in dressing this body type: frills and furbelows
should give way to elegant, uncluttered designs, which are the most
flattering to this silhouette.
Tall Girl recommends that accessories for big and bold body types
be on a larger scale. An eye-catching belt is one great option. But
if your bust is ample, a narrow belt may be your best bet. Mackie
also points out that tall women can take more liberties mixing prints
and colors since they don't need to be concerned about emphasizing
vertical lines.
Flowing midcalf-length skirts compliment a large, angular frame,
as does layering, but avoid heavy or bulky pieces. A tall woman's
best revenge is that she has what it takes to show off a pair of
cuffed trousers with the style and panache of Katharine Hepburn.
Any comments, ladies? Please reply to Roberta Angela Dee.
© 1998, Roberta Angela Dee
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